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7 Best Aquarium Plants For Tetras

If you are looking for the best aquarium plants for your tetras then you are at the right place.

In this blog post, I will show you the plants that can grow in low to moderate lighting conditions and will provide good hiding places for your tetras.

So let’s begin the list.

Best Aquarium Plants For Tetras

Best Aquarium Plants For Tetras image

1. Ludwigia Repens

Ludwigia Repens
PARAMETERSVALUES
PLANTLudwigia Repens
COMMON NAMESLudwigia repens, Ludwigia repens Rubin, Red repens, Ludwigia sp. Weinrot, Red-Leaf Ludwigia, Creeping Primrose-Willow
SCIENTIFIC NAMELudwigia repens
FAMILYOnagraceae
CARE LEVELEasy
LIGHT REQUIREMENTLow to very high
GROWTH RATEModerate to Fast
TEMPERATURE60- 86oF
pH5 - 8
HARDNESSVery soft to hard level
PLACEMENTBackground
MAXIMUM SIZE7-19 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE10 gallon

Ludwigia repens is a fast-growing stem plant.

It is a very popular coloring plant.

The color of its leaves ranges from deep green to deep red.

This plant is very easy to care which makes it ideal for beginners.

How much light does Ludwigia repens require?

Ludwigia repens can survive in almost any lighting condition so you can easily keep it in your tetra aquarium under moderate lighting of 2 to 3 watts per gallon.

What’s the best place to keep Ludwigia repens in the aquarium?

As Ludwigia repens is a tall stem plant that can grow as tall as 19 inches which makes it a very good background plant.

Another way to keep it in the tank is to just let it float in your aquarium.

This plant gets nutrients through its leaves so it will do just fine if you keep it that way.

Ideal water parameters

Ludwigia repens can tolerate a wide range of temperatures from 60 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ideal temperature range for tetra is 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can easily keep ludwigia repens in your tetra aquarium.

Substrate requirements

Ludwigia repens gets its nutrients through the water column.

So you can keep it in any substrate you have or you want to.

This plant can also grow without substrate, you can just let it float in your aquarium.

Fertilization requirements

Ludwigia repens is not a demanding plant when it comes to fertilizers. 

It can do well without any fertilizers but to get its red coloration, you should supplement it with some CO2 fertilizers or CO2 gas.

CO2 will also help to grow it faster.

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here

2. Anacharis

Anacharis

Image by Christina Cahalane under CC BY 2.0

PARAMETERSVALUES
PLANTAnacharis
SCIENTIFIC NAMEElodea
FAMILYHydrocharitaceae
CARE LEVELEasy
LIGHT REQUIREMENTModerate
GROWTH RATEFast
TEMPERATURE60-82° F
pH6.5-7.5
HARDNESSKH 3-8
PLACEMENTBackground
MAXIMUM SIZE6 to 8 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE10 gallon

Anacharis is a fast-growing stem plant. It is a very good plant if you have Guppies in your tetra aquarium.

This plant is very easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it ideal for beginners.

This is also one of the best oxygenating plants.

How much light does Anacharis require?

Anacharis does well in moderate lighting conditions.

Ideally, you should provide at least 2 watts light per gallon to this plant.

If it gets low light then it will die and if you keep it under highlighting conditions then it can cause algae growth on this plant.

Where to keep it in an aquarium?

There are a couple of ways you can keep anacharis in an aquarium.

If you want to keep it as a background plant, you can plant it in a substrate.

When you plant multiple anacharis plants close to each other it will provide a lot of good hiding places for your tetras.

You can also so just let it float in your aquarium and it will do fine.

When you keep it floating, it will filter the light coming into the tank which will provide shading areas for the tetras.

Ideal water parameters

As mentioned earlier, Anacharis can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.

Its temperature tolerance range is between 62-82 degrees Fahrenheit so you can easily keep it in your Tetra aquarium.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6.5 to 7.5 and the water hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.

Substrate requirements

You can use any substrate for planting Anacharis is in your aquarium.

But if you plant it in a nutrient-rich substrate then it will benefit from it and will grow quickly.

Fertilization requirements

You should provide fertilizers to Anacharis for its proper growth.

If you are planting it in a substrate then you should supplement it with root tabs.

If you are keeping it floating in your aquarium then you should supplement it with liquid fertilizers, especially after the weekly water change.

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here

6 Tips to Take Care of Live Plants in Aquarium (For Beginners)

3. Brazilian Pennywort

Image by Wouter Hagens under CC BY-SA 3.0

PARAMETERSVALUES
PLANTBrazilian Pennywort
SCIENTIFIC NAMEHydrocotyle leucocephala
CARE LEVELEasy
LIGHT REQUIREMENTModerate
GROWTH RATEFast
TEMPERATURE68 – 82°F
pH6.0 – 7.8
PLACEMENTFloating or Foreground
MAXIMUM SIZE8 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE10 gallon

Brazilian pennywort is a very good plant to keep in your Tetra aquarium because it will provide a lot of hiding places to your Tetras.

It is also a very good floating plant and will provide good shading areas for your Tetras.

This is a fast-growing aquarium plant that can grow as fast as a couple of inches each week.

It is very easy to care and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it ideal for beginners.

How much light does Brazilian pennywort require?

Brazilian pennywort will grow very fast if you keep it under high lighting conditions.

But you should not keep it under high lighting conditions in your Tetra aquarium because Tetras usually don’t like bright light in their aquarium.

Brazilian pennywort can also do well in moderate lighting conditions.

So you should provide it moderate lighting of at least 2-3 watts per gallon.

Where to keep it in an aquarium?

There are a couple of ways you can keep Brazilian pennywort in your aquarium.

This is a tall plant that can grow up to 8 inches, so depending on the size of your aquarium you can plant it in the mid-ground or background of your tank.

You can also so keep it as a floating plant in your aquarium which will block the light coming into the tank and provide shading areas for your Tetras.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Brazilian pennywort is between 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

And its pH tolerance ranges between 6-7.8.

Substrate requirements.

You can use any substrate for planting Brazilian pennywort in your aquarium. 

If you plant it in a nutrient-rich substrate, it will benefit from it and grow faster.

Fertilization requirement

Brazilian pennywort requires a good amount of nitrogen and iron for its proper growth.

So you should supplement it with fertilizers that are rich in iron and nitrogen.

If you are planting it in the substrate then you should supplement it with root tabs.

If you are keeping it as a floating plant then you should supplement it with regular doses of liquid fertilizers, especially after weekly water changes.

For faster growth, you can supplement it with additional CO2.

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here

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4. Christmas Moss

PARAMETERSVALUES
PLANTChristmas moss
COMMON NAMESChristmas moss
SCIENTIFIC NAMEVesicularia montagnei
FAMILYHypnaceae
CARE LEVELEasy
LIGHT REQUIREMENTModerate to high
GROWTH RATEModerate to high
TEMPERATURE68-82°F
pH5-7.5
HARDNESS5-20 dH
PLACEMENTFloating, foreground
MAXIMUM SIZE4 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE5 gallon

Christmas moss is a very popular plant in aquascaping because it produces very beautiful results.

It is a very good plant if you have shrimps in your Tetra aquarium.

This plant is very easy to care and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it ideal for beginners.

It is a very hardy fast-growing plant and can provide a lot of hiding places for your Tetras.

How much light does Christmas Moss require?

As mentioned earlier, Christmas moss is a very hardy plant and it is very undemanding.

This plant can survive in almost any lighting condition.

But if you keep it under very low lighting then it will not grow properly.

Ideally, you should keep it in moderate lighting of at least 2 to 3 watts per gallon.

Where to keep Christmas moss in an aquarium?

In the natural habitat, Christmas moss is attached to the surface of the rock in a stream.

There are several ways you can keep Christmas Moss in your tank.

The simplest way is to just let it float in your aquarium and it will do just fine.

But the popular way of keeping this plant is to attach it to any ornament like driftwood or rock and then put it into your aquarium.

Christmas moss also makes a very good carpet plant.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Christmas moss is between 68-82 degrees Fahrenheit.

And its pH tolerance ranges between 5 to 7.5.

Substrate requirements

Christmas Moss doesn’t have true roots. 

Instead, it has rhizomes that get attached to any object like driftwood, rock and even wall of your aquarium.

So basically, it doesn’t require any substrate to keep it in the tank.

Fertilization requirements

As mentioned earlier, Christmas moss is a very hardy plant and it can do well without any fertilizers.

But if you provide it some fertilizers then it can benefit from it.

You can also supplement it with some additional CO2 for its fast growth and improved coloration.

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here

5. Anubias

PARAMETERSVALUES
PLANTAnubias
COMMON NAMES
SCIENTIFIC NAMEAnubias
FAMILYAraceae
CARE LEVELEasy
LIGHT REQUIREMENTLow-Moderate
GROWTH RATESlow
TEMPERATURE72-82°F
pH6.5 – 7.8
HARDNESS60- 160 ppm
PLACEMENTMid-background
MAXIMUM SIZE11+ Inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE5 Gallons
PROPAGATIONRhizome Division

Anubias is a very popular aquarium plant in the aquarium hobby.

This plant is very hardy and easy to care for which makes it ideal for beginners.

Some Tetras like Bloodfin Tetra like broad leaves plants so it is a great addition for their tank.

How much light does Anubias require?

Anubias is a very hardy plant and it can do well in almost any lighting condition.

But for the proper growth of this plant, you should keep it under moderate lighting of at least 2 to 3 watts per gallon.

Where to keep Anubias in an aquarium?

Anubias doesn’t really grow very tall so it is not a good fit for the background of a tank.

Its leaves spread wide and provide hiding places to Tetras.

So, you should keep it in the middle ground or foreground of your aquarium.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Anubias is between 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6.5 to 7.8 and its hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.

Substrate requirements

Anubias doesn’t really have true roots.

Instead, it has rhizomes.

You can keep it in any substrate and it will do just fine.

You can also attach it to any ornament in your aquarium like driftwood or rock.

Fertilization requirements

For the proper growth of Anubias, you should supplement it with some fertilizers regularly.

You should use liquid fertilizers for this plant.

And you should at these fertilizers after the weekly water change.

For faster growth, you can supplement it with additional CO2.

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here

Plants help to Increase Oxygen in an Aquarium

6. Java fern

java fern
PARAMETERSVALUES
PLANTJava Fern
COMMON NAMESJava Fern
SCIENTIFIC NAMEMicrosorum pteropus
FAMILYPolypodiaceae
CARE LEVELEasy
LIGHT REQUIREMENTLow to Moderate
GROWTH RATELow to Moderate
TEMPERATURE68-82oF
pH6.0-7.5
HARDNESS60-160 ppm
PLACEMENTMid to Background
MAXIMUM SIZE13.5 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE5 Gallons

Java fern is another popular plant in the aquarium hobby.

This plant is widely available in almost all the aquarium shops and it is very cheap as well.

This plant is very easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it ideal for beginners.

How much light does Java fern require?

Java fern can do well in almost any lighting condition.

When you keep it in your Tetra aquarium, you should provide it at least 2 watts light per gallon for its proper growth.

Where to keep Java fern in an aquarium?

Java fern can grow pretty large with its large leaves that spread widely in all directions.

So, you should keep it in the middle or background of your tank.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Java fern is between 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6-7.5 and the water hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.

Fertilization requirements

Java fern is a very hardy plant and can do well without any fertilizers.

But you can supplement it with some fertilizers and it will benefit from it.

This plant gets most of its nutrients from the water column so you should supplement it with liquid fertilizers, especially after the weekly water changes.

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here

7. Cryptocoryne Wendtii

Cryptocoryne wendtii

Image by Haplochromis under CC BY 2.5

PARAMETERSVALUES
PLANTCryptocoryne Wendtii
COMMON NAMESWendt’s Cryptocoryne, water trumpet
SCIENTIFIC NAMECryptocoryne Wendtii
FAMILYAraceae
CARE LEVELEasy
LIGHT REQUIREMENTLow
GROWTH RATEMedium
TEMPERATURE72-82° F
pH6.0-8.0
HARDNESSKH 3-8
PLACEMENTBackground
MAXIMUM SIZE6 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE5 gallon

Cryptocoryne wendtii is a very popular freshwater aquarium plant.

The best part about this plant is that it comes with a wide color and size variations.

This plant comes in red, brown and green color.

And its leaf size range from 5 to 18 inches.

This plant is very easy to care for which makes it a good plant for beginners.

Also, this plant does well in low lighting condition so it is an ideal plant for a Tetra aquarium.

How much light does Cryptocoryne wendtii require?

Cryptocoryne wendtii can tolerate can do well in almost any lighting condition.

You should keep it under low lighting of about 2 watts per gallon in your Tetra aquarium.

Where to keep Cryptocoryne wendtii in an aquarium?

Cryptocoryne wendtii comes in different color and size variations.

If you have a small aquarium then you should keep the green variety of Cryptocoryne wendtii in the middle ground or background of your aquarium.

If you have a bigger aquarium then you can keep any variety of it like the red variety that grows pretty large in the middle ground or background of your aquarium.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Cryptocoryne wendtii is between 72 to 82 Degree Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6-8 and the water hardness tolerance range is between 3-8KH.

Substrate requirements

You can use any substrate for planting Cryptocoryne wendtii in your aquarium.

Whether that is nutrient-rich substrate or a gravel substrate.

You can even keep it with a sand substrate.

One study found that Cryptocoryne wendtii actually do well than any other substrate.

Fertilization requirements

You should supplement Cryptocoryne wendtii with some fertilizers for its proper growth.

You should supplement it with root tabs that are rich in iron.

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon here

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FAQ

What plants are good for Tetras?

There is a lot of variety to choose from when it comes to plants for Tetras.

You can keep floating plants like Brazilian pennywort in a Tetra aquarium.

You can also keep other plants like Java fern, Anubias, Cryptocoryne wendtii, Christma moss, etc in your Tetra aquarium.

But you should avoid keeping plants that require high lighting conditions for their growth because Tetras generally doesn’t like high lighting in the tank.

That’s why floating plants are usually a very good option for Tetras because they block the light coming into the tank.

Do neon tetras like plants?

Yes, because it provides a lot of hiding places to neon tetras.

Besides, there are a lot of other benefits of keeping live plants in an aquarium.

For example, live plants help to oxygenate the water, it helps to reduce ammonia in the aquarium, it also helps to reduce the temperature in the aquarium, etc.

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Conclusion

So, these are the best aquarium plants for Tetras.

I hope you found this article helpful.

If you do please share it.

If you have any questions then let me know in the comments section below and I’ll be happy to help you out.

Also, let me know which plant you are going to keep in your Tetra aquarium in the comments below.

Happy fishkeeping!

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Author
Prathmesh Gawai
He is the main author and editor at Aquagoodness.com. And he loves to share helpful information on aquarium and/or fishkeeping hobby. Prathmesh has over five years of aquarium and/or fishkeeping experience. Currently, he has a Betta fish tank. He has written hundreds of articles on various aquarium fish species and on fish tank maintenance over the last five years. Connect with him on YouTube here. Learn more about him here.

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